Take Action: Tell legislators to oppose bill that would diminish teachers voices
04/03/2015

 

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce publicized its latest goal to push for the inclusion of SB 538 language in a bill this session. Their efforts come as the deadline for bills to be heard in committees are set to end next week.

 

Why is this bill, SB 538, referred to as “an agenda bill” by the chamber spokesperson, is so important to the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

SB 538 is a bill with only one real purpose, poking the Indiana State Teachers Association in the eye. It does nothing to improve student learning or the practice of teaching. Rather, it causes confusion in our schools and seeks to diminish teachers’ voices about their workplaces - the classroom.

 

SB 538:

1. Sets up a new, state-driven approach to challenge the status of the exclusive representative while existing law enables real stakeholders who are at the local level to make these challenges.

2. Wreaks havoc on bargaining relationships by mandating “equal access to” and “equal treatment of” new entities called “Professional Employee Organizations”—all terms that are ill-defined in the bill and impossible to administer. If equal access is not provided, SB 538 mandates that no organization gets access which, in turn, would violate existing bargaining laws. It’s a legal mess.

3. Creates a false sense of urgency inside our public school buildings around more “adult issues” rather than student-centered ones.

 

This is politics, not policy aiming to help students or teachers, and it should be rejected. Contact your representative today and urge them to oppose this SB 538 language and ask that they reject it in any form, in any bill.